Allied officials, public and private sector representatives, and European Commission officials met in The Hague (The Netherlands) on 1 and 2 October 2025, to share views on bolstering cooperation between the public and the private sectors, in response to crises and conflicts.
Discussions focused on increasing awareness and understanding of the important role played by the private sector in making our societies more resilient, and on how to complement NATO's deterrence and collective defence efforts. Participants also discussed the challenges and strategies for civil-military and public-private cooperation in a contested environment, and on ensuring continuity in the provision of critical services, including with respect to energy, water, communications, healthcare, food supply, and transport.
NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, François-Marie Gougeon, opened the seminar, underlining that this event contributes to NATO's efforts in improving resilience against threats to Allied nations and populations. He also highlighted the importance of further integrating civilian and military planning for our collective security.
The Director for Crisis Management at the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, Marco Zannoni, who hosted the seminar, said that this cooperation is critical. He highlighted that strengthening the resilience of our societies, including government, businesses, civil society organisations, the public and the links between them, is critical to reducing risks and vulnerabilities in the face of today's challenges.
